DOCSLIB.ORG

The Garvin House

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Garvin House THE GARVIN HOUSE The Journey of a Freedman’s Family Bluffton, South Carolina C. 1891 Cyrus Garvin Prepared by: Melanie Marks and Patricia Hines CT House Histories, LLC Fairfield, Connecticut/Bluffton, South Carolina November, 2016 The Journey of a Freedman’s Family November, 2016 Acknowledgements This report and Appendices represents the distillation of countless documents, images and opinions – the collection of which would not have been possible without the kind and patient assistance of certain people. The authors are especially grateful to the following: Mary Ann Stender Bagwell, William Gaston Allen descendant, Clemson, South Carolina Pamelia Baxley, Senior Clerk, Beaufort County Registrar of Deeds, Beaufort, SC Pearl Boynes, Board of Directors Member, Guyton Historical Society, Guyton, Georgia Miss Ruth Brown, “Recollections of the Garvin/Garvey Family,” personal interview, Bluffton, SC LeRoy “Bubba” Chisholm, parishioner of St. Matthews Baptist Church, Bluffton, SC Theresa Yasin, Office of Vital Records, Bureau of Vital Statistics, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth Street, NY, NY City Clerk, New York City Department of Records, Municipal Archiver, 31 Chambers Street, NY, NY Alexander Clay, Joseph S. Baynard’s great-grandson, Guyton, Georgia Carolyn M. Coppola, Executive Director, Celebrate Bluffton, Inc., Bluffton, SC Grace Morris Cordial, CA, Manager, Beaufort District Collection: the Beaufort County Library’s Special Local History Collection and Archives Department, Beaufort, SC Barbara Derrick, Director of Administration, Assistant State Registrar, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Vital Records, Columbia, SC Joseph P. DiTroia, Director, U. S. Columbarium Company/Fresh Pond Cemetery, Middle Village, Queens, NY Wade Dorsey, Reference Archivist, South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, SC Graham Duncan, Manuscripts Division, South Caroliniana Library, Columbia, South Carolina Ms. Virginia L. Ellison, MLIS, Archivist, South Carolina Historical Society, Charleston, SC Jeff Fulgham, Director, Bluffton Historical Preservation Society, Bluffton, SC Patricia Garvin, Court Administrator and Division Chief of Guardianships and Conservatorships, Beaufort County Probate Court, Beaufort, SC Miss Cora Henderson, District of Columbia Department of Health, Vital Records Division, Washington, DC Heritage Library, Hilton Head, South Carolina Mary Lamie, Researcher, Beaufort County Registrar of Deeds, Beaufort, SC Jacob Martin. “Recollections of the Garvin/Garvey Family.”, Personal interview, Bluffton, SC Gwen Mayhew, Librarian for Instruction and Inter-library Services, Thomas J. Watson Library, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York Emmett and Teddy McCracken, Bluffton, SC The Garvin House, Bluffton, South Carolina The Journey of a Freedman’s Family November, 2016 Rose Mohyla, Clerk, Mount Olivet Cemetery, Maspeth, NY Mrs. Joann Oliver, District of Columbian Department of Health, Vital Records Division, Washington, DC Joanne Quinn, Clerk, Mount Olivet Cemetery, Maspeth, NY Miss Betty Renfro, Secretary, Historic Effingham Society, Springfield, Georgia Nelly Rivera, Clerk, Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, NY Edward Schmitt, Foreman, Mount Olivet Cemetery, Maspeth, NY Erin Schumacher, Senior Planner, Town of Bluffton, Bluffton, SC Shirley Smith, Chief Registrar, Beaufort County Registrar of Deeds, Beaufort, SC Dr. Mary Socci, Archaeologist, Palmetto Bluff Conservancy, Bluffton, SC Dr. Phillip Stone, Archivist, Sandor Teszler Library, Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC Ashley Sylva, Preservation Associate, Beaufort District Collection: the Beaufort County Library’s Special Local History Collection and Archives Department, Beaufort, SC Roderick (Tony) Thomas, Director, U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, Long Island, NY Steve Tuttle, South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, SC Barbara J. Veiock, Information and Events Coordinator, City of Savannah Department of Cemeteries, Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia Patricia Walls, Parishioner & Financial Secretary, St Matthews Baptist Church, Bluffton, SC The Garvin House, Bluffton, South Carolina The Journey of a Freedman’s Family November, 2016 “Slaves were not brought to America. Africans were brought to America, and there they were enslaved.” Edward Ball “Slaves in the Family” (reprinted with the permission of the author) The Garvin House, Bluffton, South Carolina The Journey of a Freedman’s Family December, 2016 The Journey of a Freedman’s Family The Garvin House, Bluffton, South Carolina The Journey of a Freedman’s Family November, 2016 Prologue Bluffton, South Carolina, in 1870 – the year Cyrus Garvin built his house – was in the midst of Reconstruction, which began in full the year the destructive and brutal American Civil War ended. The war between the North and South raged from 1861 to 1865, leaving in its wake thousands of lives lost and properties destroyed. Bluffton not only was the site of the “Bluffton Movement,” (fig. 1) which was launched in 1844 and led to the state’s secession from the Union, but it was the scene of a particularly fierce battle between Union and Confederate forces that resulted in the town being ravished by fire in 1863 (fig. 2). One wonders, as we delve into the Cyrus Garvin house and its occupants, why this freed slave decided to build a house in war-torn Bluffton and raise his family there. We will never know his thinking, but we can make a few educated guesses. One being, simply, it was home. The only one he knew. We will follow the Garvin family through the years – from Cyrus’ time as a slave to when he became a freedman. We will discover that he was a shrewd and innately talented businessman and land speculator, knew how to work with his hands, successfully cultivated the land and relationships, and held deep religious beliefs. Cyrus Garvin’s simple house – which we presume he built himself – was typical of the style during the Reconstruction period in our nation’s history. Many historians and others point to its being a good example of South Carolina Lowcountry vernacular architecture of the late 19th century. In the 2015 “Structural Assessment and Preservation Plan” completed by Meadors Inc., the house is described as: “utilizing combination framing technique using indigenous materials to create an original hall- parlor plan with shed extensions. Traditional building techniques in the structure include hand- hewn timbers and notching and Anglo methods introduced through Union occupation of Hilton Head Island (milled lumber and fabricated materials). The floor plan constitutes a 20th c., Georgian modernization of the common hall-parlor folk house, modifying it into a more refined I-house plan. The Garvin House is believed to be one of the earliest known freedmen owned houses still extant on the May River.” One must be in awe of a man – a former slave – who was able to live, work and prosper in the period from 1865 to 1877 when the uneasy Reconstruction era was tense for all involved. What began as promising in the beginning soon degenerated with more divisiveness and strife. At the heart of the War Between the States was the issue of slavery – in full force in the South but abolished years earlier in the North. The Emancipation Proclamation (fig. 3) was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 – when the Civil War was entering into three years – and declared that “all persons held as slaves” in the rebellious states “are, and henceforward, shall be free.” The Garvin House, Bluffton, South Carolina The Journey of a Freedman’s Family November, 2016 But, according to the National Archives and Records Administration, the proclamation was limited. “It applied only to states that had seceded from the Union, leaving slavery untouched in the loyal border states. It also expressly exempted parts of the Confederacy that had already come under Northern control. Most important, the freedom it promised depended upon Union military victory. “Although the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery in the nation, it captured the hearts and imagination of millions of Americans and fundamentally transformed the character of the war. After January 1, 1863, every advance of federal troops expanded the domain of freedom. Moreover, the Proclamation announced the acceptance of black men into the Union Army and Navy, enabling the liberated to become liberators. By the end of the war, almost 200,000 black soldiers and sailors had fought for the Union and freedom. “From the first days of the Civil War, slaves had acted to secure their own liberty. The Emancipation Proclamation confirmed their insistence that the war for the Union must become a war for freedom. It added moral force to the Union cause and strengthened the Union both militarily and politically. As a milestone along the road to slavery's final destruction, the Emancipation Proclamation has assumed a place among the great documents of human freedom.” The Lowcountry Digital History Initiative’s “After Slavery: Race, Labor and Politics in the Post- Emancipation Carolinas” provides a further explanation. “Still, the process of emancipation was most fundamentally about bringing an end to an unjust system of forced labor. The bitter conflict that developed after 1865 between freed slaves and their former masters revolved around crucial questions of what freedom would mean and who would define its boundaries. For the most part, ex-masters accepted that
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Table of Contents Installing the Game Playing the Game
    SU_PC_manual.qxp 10/12/06 11:56 AM Page 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS INSTALLING THE GAME Before playing Shattered Union it must be installed onto your computer. To install INSTALLING THE GAME 2 THE CONFEDERACY 20 the game just insert the first game disc into your computer's CD/DVD-ROM. If you GREAT PLAINS FEDERATION 20 have auto-play enabled then a window will open and you can select INSTALL from that menu to begin installation. Otherwise, navigate to the setup.exe file on the REPUBLIC OF TEXAS 21 PLAYING THE GAME 2 disc and run that executable to start installation. Simply follow the on-screen CALIFORNIA COMMONWEALTH 21 instructions through the install process to complete installation. Once the game LOAD 2 is installed correctly on your machine you can start the game through the start PACIFICA 21 SKIRMISH 2 menu, desktop icon, or by inserting the game disc into your CD/DVD-ROM drive. EUROPEAN UNION 22 MANAGE UNITS 3 PLAYING THE GAME BUYING UNITS 3 UNIT INFORMATION 22 NEW SELLING/REPAIRING UNIT 4 GROUND UNITS 22 From this menu option you can begin a new game. You can choose from three DEPLOYING UNITS 4 AIR UNITS 29 game types: Campaign, Skirmish, and Multi-Player. Each of these game types will ALL MODES 4 be discussed in detail following this section. LOAD GAME REFERENCE 31 TACTICAL BATTLES 4 By choosing the load option you can load a TERRITORY FEATURE ICONS 31 previously saved single player game. Campaign games will load into the UNIT INFORMATION ICONS 32 CAMPAIGN 13 campaign screen or the tactical battle depending on when they were saved.
    [Show full text]
  • Advanced Placement U.S. History Syllabus 2013-14 This Course Will
    Advanced Placement U.S. History Syllabus 2013-14 This course will provide a college-level approach to the study of United States History from the Age of Exploration to the present, preparing students to take the Advanced Placement Exam in May 2014. An emphasis is placed on mastering a significant amount of factual information, but beyond that, analyzing and interpreting that information in order to synthesize and evaluate its impact on the history of our country and on our lives today. A chronological approach will be used, studying established periods in American political, economic and social development. Key themes in this development will be identified, traced, analyzed, and evaluated, throughout the course. These themes include political development, the impact of immigration, the changing nature of relations among groups (racial, ethnic, class, gender), the significance of regional economies and cultures, the rise and impact of large social movements, and the relationship of the United States to other nations. TEXTBOOKS AND RESOURCES Atlas of American History, Skokie, IL; Rand McNally, 1993 Berkin, Carol; Miller, Christopher; Cherny, Robert; Gormly, James. Making America. Sixth Edition, Boston, MA; Houghton Mifflin Co., 2012 Caliguire, Augustine, and Leach, Roberta J. Advanced Placement American History I and II. Dubuque, lA; Brown Publishing Co., 1994 Davidson, James W., and Lytle, Mark H. After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection. 4th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2000 Foner, Eric, Voices of Freedom, A Documentary History. Second Edition, New York, NY; W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2008 Monk, Linda R., Ordinary Americans, U.S. History Through the Eyes of Everyday People.
    [Show full text]
  • Making America a History of the United States, Volume 1: to 1877 7Th Edition Pdf, Epub, Ebook
    MAKING AMERICA A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, VOLUME 1: TO 1877 7TH EDITION PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Carol Berkin | 9781285194806 | | | | | Making America A History of the United States, Volume 1: To 1877 7th edition PDF Book Customers who bought this item also bought. Professor Miller also has been active in projects designed to improve history teaching, including programs funded by the Meadows Foundation, the U. Department of Education, and other agencies. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version. Reconstruction High Hopes and Shattered Dreams Competing Visions of the Virtuous Republic More information about this seller Contact this seller. Book Description Cengage Learning, Sectional Conflict and Shattered Union The Early Republic The clear chronology, straightforward narrative, and strong thematic structure emphasize communication over intimidation and appeal to readers of varied learning levels. Your Guide to Making America. Stock Image. Modernization and Expansion View all copies of this ISBN edition:. A Continent on the Move Houghton, Softcover. New Softcover Quantity Available: 1. So I supplement the Brief Edition with outside readings online or in class. Language: English. Making a New World to Making a New World to Brand New Paperback International Edition. Every chapter has chapter outlines, chronologies, focus questions, and on-page glossaries defining both key terms and general vocabulary to provide guidance throughout the text; the open, inviting design allows readers to access and use pedagogy to improve learning. The Progressive Era His articles and reviews have appeared in numerous scholarly journals and anthologies as well as standard reference works.
    [Show full text]
  • History to 1877 Teacher(S): Mrs
    Remote Learning Packet Please submit scans of written work in Google Classroom at the end of the week. May 4-8, 2020 Course: U.S. History to 1877 Teacher(s): Mrs. Jimenez ([email protected]) Weekly Plan : Monday, May 4 ⬜ Read Chapter 18 Lesson 2 (pgs. 508-514) ⬜ Answer reading questions (worksheet) ⬜ Optional: Watch video on First Battle of Manassas - https://safeyoutube.net/w/hlB8 Tuesday, May 5 ⬜ Read and annotate Lesson: Early Strategies and Battles ⬜ Answer reading questions (worksheet) ⬜ Optional: Watch video on the War in the West - https://safeY ouTube.net/w/t1bA (short version) or on Battle of Shiloh https://safeYouTube.net/w/wNbA (long version) Wednesday, May 6 ⬜ Read and annotate Lesson: Campaigns of 1862 ⬜ Answer reading questions (worksheet) ⬜ Optional: Watch video on Battle of Antietam - https://safeYouTube.net/w/l5bA (short version) https://safeYouTube.net/w/txbA (long version) Thursday, May 7 ⬜ Read and annotate the Emancipation Proclamation ⬜ Answer reading questions (worksheet) ⬜ Watch Mrs. Jimenez’s video on Google Classroom (not optional!) ⬜ Optional: Watch video on the War in the East - https://safeY ouTube.net/w/f3bA Friday, May 8 ⬜ Attend office hours & Zoom class discussion on the War and the Proclamation ⬜ Catch-up or review the week’s work Statement of Academic Honesty I affirm that the work completed from the packet I affirm that, to the best of my knowledge, my is mine and that I completed it independently. child completed this work independently _______________________________________ _______________________________________ Student Signature Parent Signature Monday, May 4 1. Read the assigned pages (508-514) 2. Answer the questions on these readings in this week’s worksheet for Monday.
    [Show full text]
  • Midsummer's Day, Shattered Union, and the World
    Midsummer's Day, Shattered Union , and the World Financial Crisis by Jeremy James Regular readers of the many papers posted on this website over the past seven years will be aware of the impending crisis in world affairs. We have tried to alert Bible- believing Christians to the plan being carried out by the architects of the New World Order and, in our various papers on the world economy, to reveal the severity of the damage that they intend to inflict on the international financial system. We have referred a number of times to the probability that a 'date' has been fixed by this scheming cabal (possibly decades ago) to ensure that the collapse, when it comes, unfolds in a controlled manner and fits in with other elements of their plan, notably the steps they are taking to bring about World War III. In a previous paper, Strange Signs, John the Baptist, and the New World Order , we drew attention to an unusual Illuminati ritual that took place on 24 June of last year. We showed how the Queen of England travelled to Berlin to "authorize" the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, to proceed with the final phase of the plan to bring in a New World Order. In a symbolic sense, the Queen was signing an execution order which Mrs Merkel was then to carry out. This ritual took place on 'St John's Day', the feast day of St John the Baptist in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. Just as John died by decapitation, the Illuminati intend to 'decapitate' the Old World Order and replace it with a new political, religious and economic order based entirely on occult, socialist, and humanist principles.
    [Show full text]
  • 2K Games, a Publishing Label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc
    2K Games Announces E3 Lineup May 16, 2005 8:16 AM ET NEW YORK, May 16, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), today announced their lineup for the 2005 E3 Expo in Los Angeles on May 18 - 20, 2005. 2K Games will feature a wide variety of games for the PC, PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in booth #968 in the South Hall, as well as additional titles that will be featured by ATI and Bethesda Softworks in their respective booths. "We're very proud of the lineup we've assembled at 2K Games and are extremely excited to be showcasing it publicly for the first time at the biggest games show of the year," said Christoph Hartmann, Managing Director for 2K Games. "In a very short period of time, by working with some of the best developers in the business, we've been able to create a lineup that will satisfy the cravings of any and all types of gamers." 2K Games' E3 2005 product lineup: Prey: Developed by Human Head Studios and produced by 3D Realms, Prey is a revolutionary first person shooter for PC and the Xbox 360. Prey is being exclusively showcased by ATI in a movie theater-style exhibition in booth #600 in the South Hall. Sid Meier's Civilization IV: The fourth game in the PC strategy series that has sold over five million copies, Sid Meier's Civilization IV is a bold step forward for the franchise, with spectacular new 3D graphics and all-new single and multiplayer content.
    [Show full text]
  • FREDERICKSBURG, and Spotsyllvania NATIONAL MILITARY PARK to Wanenton to Washington
    Here, midway between Washington and Rich- was a good one-so logical, in fact, that Lee an- mond, Union and Confederate armies fought ticipated it. He, too, left a holding force behind four major battles: Fredericksburg, Chancellors- and moved most of his army upriver to concen- ville, the Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Court trate around Chancellorsville, a crossroads 10 House. The Confederates won the first two. miles from Fredericksburg. Surprised, Hooker After the last two engagements, Federal troops went into a defensive position, leaving his right continued a drive that eventually culminated in flank unprotected. On May 2, Lee again divided the destruction of the Confederate Army of his army and sent Stonewall Jackson around the Northern Virginia. Union front to attack the right. Jackson rolled up the Union flank, but the day ended tragically Thewar'sfirst"On to Richmond" campaign failed for the Confederates. That night Jackson was in July 1861, as shattered Union troops streamed accidentally shot by his own men. He died 8 days back into the Washington defenses from the later at Guiney's Station on the R.F. & P. Railroad. Battle of First Manassas. The second thrust, up the Peninsula between the James and the York On May 3, Lee lashed out against Hooker's newly Rivers during the spring and summer of 1862, formed lines and drove them toward the river. ended with the Seven Days' Battles before Rich- But in Fredericksburg Union troops pushed back mond and the return of the Union army to Wash- the Confederates and moved westward. Once ington. A third push in the late summer of 1862 more Lee divided his small army and hurried resulted in the Confederate victory of Second toward the town.
    [Show full text]
  • Military History Anniversaries 16 Thru 31 July
    Military History Anniversaries 16 thru 31 July Events in History over the next 15 day period that had U.S. military involvement or impacted in some way on U.S military operations or American interests Jul 16 1779 – American Revolution: Battle of Stony Point » In a well planned and executed nighttime attack, American Brigadier General Anthony Wayne on the orders of General George Washington launches a coup de main against British fortifications at Stony Point, New York approximately 30 miles north of New York City. He earns the moniker “Mad” Anthony Wayne for the ensuing maneuver. The British fort on the cliffs at Stony Point overlooking the Hudson River threatened West Point, which was only 12 miles upriver. Wayne, at the head of 1,200 light infantry, successfully assaulted what the British believed was an impregnable position, losing only 15 killed and 83 wounded while the British lost 94 killed and wounded and 472 captured. Remarkably, the attack took place under cover of darkness, employed only bayonets as weaponry and lasted a mere 30 minutes. Two days later, Wayne, now dubbed “mad” for his enthusiastic and successful undertaking of a mission that had seemed doomed to failure, destroyed the fortifications and evacuated the area. Congress rewarded Wayne’s efforts with a medal. Much of Wayne’s ensuing career involved divesting Native Americans of their land. Following the victory at Yorktown, Wayne traveled to Georgia, where he negotiated treaties with the Creeks and Cherokees. They paid dearly in land for their decision to side with the British, and Georgia paid Wayne in land—giving him a large plantation—for his efforts on their behalf.
    [Show full text]
  • Civil War Veterans' Organizations
    Office of Historic Alexandria City of Alexandria, Virginia Out of the Attic Civil War veterans’ organizations Alexandria Times, November 7, 2019 Image: . Souvenir badge from the 36th National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic held in Washington, D.C. It was owned by a veteran of the Defenses of Washington and the Battle of Fort Stevens. Courtesy, Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site. he end of the Civil War left the nation to pick up the pieces of the shattered Union and rebuild. Hundreds of T thousands of soldiers had died. For those who survived, the aftermath was also a time of renewal. Many of the survivors had physical or mental scars. All who served were changed forever. As early as 1863, veterans’ organizations formed so that members could support each other and their families. These veterans eventually began to look back on their time in the military with fondness, the horrible memories of war softening with the passage of time. Soldiers and sailors missed the camaraderie of army life most of all. The largest organization of Civil War veterans was the Grand Army of the Republic. It was founded in 1866 with membership open to honorably discharged veterans of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Revenue Cutter Service who served between April 12, 1861 and April 9, 1865. At its peak, there were about 410,000 members active at local posts spread throughout the country. The GAR was able to use its membership to build soldiers’ homes and to lobby for the rights and benefits of those who served the Union.
    [Show full text]
  • HIST - 103 - 202220 Fall 2021
    HIST - 103 - 202220 Fall 2021 C 2020-21 Revised Course (Form B/335) Revised Course - Form B/335 Effective Term:* 202220 Fall 2021 Department:* Communication, Humanities & Arts Department Subject Code:* HIST Course Number:* 103 Shortened Course Title: United States History to 1865 Official Course Title:* United States History to 1865 Areas Updated:* Credit Hours Sequence of Instruction Course Title Course Equivalencies Course Description Major/Program Restrictions Type of Instruction Learning Outcomes Prerequisite/Co-requisite Methods of Assessment Course Fees Core Knowledge Area Electives Facility Needs Textbooks/Required Materials Justification for Proposal:* This change is long overdue. For years, enrollments in HIST 104, United States History II have lagged behind HIST 103, United States History I. Despite notations in Banner that 103 is not a pre-req for 104, students think they need 103 US I before taking 104 US II. In order to avoid any future confusion and perhaps equalize enrollment in the two courses, we are renaming the survey sequence. Textbooks are being added as well to the 335. To reduce student expense, two of the texts are open source digital texts. Digital Description Credit Hours: 3 Lecture Hours: 3 Laboratory Hours: 0 Lecture Pay Hours: 3 Lab Pay Hours: 0 Catalog Description/ Covers the history of the United States from Pre-European colonization to the year 1865. This course examines the major Prerequisite/ Co-requisites: events, as well as the individuals, that played a significant role in the development of the United States during this time period. Special attention is paid to the following topics: Native America, European Conquest and Settlement, the Atlantic Economy, Imperial Conflicts in North America, America and the Revolution, the New Republic, Jacksonian America, Westward Expansion, Antebellum America, and A Divided Union and the American Civil War.
    [Show full text]
  • Topsfield and the Civil War.Pages
    This study was funded by a Kimball Scholarship Fund grant to the History Department of Gordon College. The research was done by Emily Marsan, a student, and her academic advisor, Professor Goss. The paper was delivered by Professor Goss at a meeting of the Topsfield Historical Society on October 26, 2006. TOPSFIELD AND THE CIVIL WAR K. David Goss, Gordon College In 1860 the population of the town of Topsfield was 1,292 people. Approximately one third of this number were adult males; approximately 430 men above eighteen years of age. Of this group one hundred thirty two served in the United States military during the Civil War. Of these, thirty-one would lose their lives as a direct consequence of military service. This represents slightly over 21% of all those who served from Topsfield, making the Civil War Topsfield's most costly conflict in terms of loss of life. This is the story of that struggle and particularly the story of Topsfield's men and women who endured it. (Civil War Document File, Topsfield Town Records, Topsfield Town Hall) Before the outbreak of the Civil War, Topsfield had established a long-standing tradition of patriotism and community pride. This was based in large part upon the town's impressive support of the patriotic cause during the American Revolution. Every Fourth of July, speeches and festivities were held on Topsfield Common to honor the 103 patriots who had served in the Continental forces during the War of Independence. Beyond this, Topsfield had long been known as a community generally sympathetic to the abolitionist cause.
    [Show full text]
  • Shiloh National Military Park, Tennessee
    SHILOH UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Douglas McKay, Secretary NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Conrad L. Wirth, Director HISTORICAL HANDBOOK NUMBER TEN This publication is one of a series of handbooks describing the historical and archeological areas in the National Park System administered by the National Park Service of the United States Department of the Interior. It is printed by the Government Printing Office and may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington 25, D. C. Price 25 cents. SHILOH National Military Parkj Tennessee by Albert Dillahunty NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HISTORICAL HANDBOOK SERIES NO. 10 WASHINGTON 25, D. C. 1955 The National Park System, oj which Shiloh National Military Park is a unit, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, scientific, and historic heritage oj the United States for the benefit and enjoyment oj its people. Qontents Page PRELIMINARY CAMPAIGN 2 THE FIRST DAY 9 THE SECOND DAY 16 RESULTS OF THE BATTLE 19 GUIDE TO THE AREA 24 Iowa State Monument 24 Michigan State Monument 27 Confederate Monument 27 Ruggles' Batteries 28 Confederate Burial Trench 28 Illinois State Monument 29 Shiloh Church Site 29 Fraley Field 30 Putnam Stump 30 Hornets' Nest and Sunken Road 31 Johnston's Monument 31 Peach Orchard 32 War Cabin 32 Bloody Pond 33 Indian Mounds 33 Overlook 33 Pittsburg Landing 34 NATIONAL CEMETERY 35 HOW TO REACH THE PARK 35 ADMINISTRATION 36 RELATED AREAS 36 VISITOR FACILITIES 37 SHILOH INSPIRES WRITERS 37 Shiloh Church, painted by Capt. A. M. Connett, 24th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, a participant in the battle. HILOH NATIONAL MILITARY PARK preserves the scene of the first great battle in the West of the War Between the States.
    [Show full text]